Barpa Langass

Nearest town:
Uig (56km ENE)
OS reference:
NF838657
OS sheet:
18
Latitude:
57° 34' 13.56 N
Longitude:
7° 17' 23.95 W

Images

Image of Barpa Langass (Chambered Cairn) by postman

Good lord what a mess, I cant say where the camera is pointing, no wonder they don’t want us in there, such shoddy workmanship.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Aug 2, 2016
Image of Barpa Langass (Chambered Cairn) by postman

Broken lintel support, very reassuring.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Aug 2, 2016
Image of Barpa Langass (Chambered Cairn) by postman

Where does it go? whats in there? whats it like ? is it dangerous?
Only one way to know for sure.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Aug 2, 2016
Image of Barpa Langass (Chambered Cairn) by postman

The massive and brilliant Barpa Langass with notice informing one of the collapse and closure of the chamber, the crappy gate can be pulled out of the way though.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Aug 2, 2016
Image of Barpa Langass (Chambered Cairn) by GLADMAN

Sunburst upon the great passage grave. What a wonderful, crazy landscape this is.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Feb 17, 2016
Image of Barpa Langass (Chambered Cairn) by GLADMAN

Towards Loch a’ Bharpa. Could’ve sat here all day. But it’s better inside......

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Feb 17, 2016
Image of Barpa Langass (Chambered Cairn) by GLADMAN

Light pours into the entrance passage-way.. from the fastness of the chamber. A great spot to loiter and so freak out passing punters on organised walks.... [tourist, in trepidatious voice: “my God, there’s somebody in there.. I say, how long have you been in there’? Robert, affecting ‘otherworldly voice’: “Oh, about 6000 years”]. Heh! heh!

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Feb 17, 2016
Image of Barpa Langass (Chambered Cairn) by GLADMAN

Mist swirls around the great chambered cairn – 2 hours later, cloudless blue sky....

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Apr 18, 2010
Image of Barpa Langass (Chambered Cairn) by 1speed

Rear of chamber (with evidence of Uist Monsoon)

Image credit: Tony Morley
1speed
1speed May 23, 2009
Image of Barpa Langass (Chambered Cairn) by follow that cow

This sign is at the start of the trail, outside the hotel/lodge that takes in Barpa Langass and the stones, Finns People.

Image credit: FTC
follow that cow
follow that cow Apr 3, 2005
Image of Barpa Langass (Chambered Cairn) by follow that cow

The best way is not straight up (phew) but carry on along the road to the hotel and follow the track. See diagram.

Image credit: FTC
follow that cow
follow that cow Apr 3, 2005
Image of Barpa Langass (Chambered Cairn) by greywether

The NE section of the cairn.

There was a V-shaped forecourt. One stone of the N edge can still be seen (arrowed).

greywether
greywether Sep 21, 2004
Image of Barpa Langass (Chambered Cairn) by greywether

The view from the short surviving passage just as you enter the chamber.

The first chamber stone is on the far left.

The support for the broken lintel is in the centre and the fallen cairn material or blocking is on the right.

greywether
greywether Sep 21, 2004
Image of Barpa Langass (Chambered Cairn) by greywether

Looking out (E) of the chamber to the entrance.

The stone put in to support thr broken lintel can be seen on the left.

greywether
greywether Sep 21, 2004

Articles

Barpa Langass

postman
postman Aug 3, 2016

From the Lochmaddy ferry terminal we headed straight here, just follow the road as it bends left, past some antenna type whatsit, round Beinn Langais, that’s the hill on who’s side the burial chamber is perched upon.
If memory serves the cairn cant be seen from the east, so the first sign that you’ve arrived is a sign pointing to the car park.
Car duly parked, the last few yards up hill to the chambered cairn are delirious ones, I was as giddy as a lone child at Christmas, I’ve been looking forward to this one for quite some time.
From the beginning really, I am slowly working my way through the big orange book, apart from a few stragglers here and there I’ve only got these far flung places still to get to, this is a big one.
It really is a big one too, I wasn’t expecting it to be so big, or is it the wide open spaces that make it look big, or is it just me.
Then I saw the sign, read the sign, and swore at the sign, shit, what? closed? say it isn’t so, I make my way to the entrance, eye up the wooden frame covering the entrance, pick it up in one hand and put it to one side, that’s not closed, Hetty Peglar’s tump, that was closed, this isn’t closed.
Peering into the gloom inside, I decide that I’ve waited too long and come too far to be a prude, in all I might have given it a seconds thought, nah, who am I kidding I just went straight in with out a thought of what if it collapses on me, I haven’t won the lottery nor been hit by a meteorite, I pass through the universe largely unnoticed, nothing interesting ever happens to me, it’ll be fine.
It’s a cramped scurry along the short passage, sidling past the collapse, footing is damn near treacherous, the floor is covered in large chunks of cairn material. This is the most chaotic burial chamber ever, it all looks very precarious, it got even more so as my son entered the tomb, then dad took over, I told him just a quick glimpse ‘cause i’m coming out. So, no sitting and chilling, no pondering the mysteries of life and death, but at least I am here and I’ve seen whats inside and sat next to it.
When we’d got out Eric noticed the dogs had turned on the hazard lights in my car so he went down to correct things, while I had a final ten minutes up here. Walking round the Barp I reckon I saw a few large kerb stones on the maybe northern side, but they were more like circle stones than kerb stones.
I didn’t climb up onto it, that would be maybe too much, the universe might see me.
It’s now almost ten o’clock at night and we’ve yet to find a campsite, so that’s where were off to next, but, my it’s been a long day.

Barpa Langass

C
CARL Jun 27, 2012

Visited 28.5.12

We parked in the ‘themed’ car park – complete with large wooden ‘prehistoric stone axes!’ and ornate metal gates / picnic area. I quickly read the very good information boards and headed up the path which takes you directly to the cairn; which is easily visible from the car park. The walk only takes about 5 minutes.

The sky was clear dark blue and the sun was beating down. Not only that but I had the place to myself! As I walked up the hill I noticed a crescent moon directly above the cairn – a magical sight (I hope the photo comes out!) My pace quickened as I got closer.

The entrance to the cairn is at the back as you approach up the hill but my initial excitement ground to a halt as I saw the entrance had been blocked with a wire frame and a notice stating that due to a collapse in the chamber it was not safe to enter. This was a real blow as I was looking forward to seeing inside the cairn – as you can imagine.

I decided that the least I could do would be to shine my torch through the wire mesh and see what I could see. As I got closer to the entrance I then noticed that someone had forced part of the wire away from the frame and it could be easily moved to one side. I also noticed that the right hand side of the passage had collapsed. What to do?

If Dafydd had been with me I wouldn’t have entered in case of further collapse but as he was asleep in the car I decided I had come too far not to take the chance! I pulled the wire to one side and was just able to crawl through the gap on my side. I then had to continue to crawl on my side past the collapse of stones. I was relived that once past the collapse the chamber looked perfectly fine and I was able to have a look around as normal – whilst listening for the sound of any falling stones!

The thing that struck me most was the large slabs of stone which were used for the roof and the 5 large (1 massive) upright stones used to support the roof stones. The walls were made up of the usual dry stone walling.

After a while I carefully eased my way back out of the cairn and replaced the wire mesh. Hopefully it won’t be too long before repairs are put in place? I walked around the outside of the cairn and spotted a couple of large kerb stones remaining.

There are wonderful views from the cairn out across the lochs towards the distant hills.

So far this was the highlight of my holiday and I would heartily recommend a visit to the wonderful site if you are ever on Uist.

Barpa Langass

1speed
1speed May 23, 2009

Visited 21/05/09ce. After waiting in the (newish?) car park / picnic area on the A867 for an hour or so until the Uist Monsoon passed over, myself and Hugo the Megalithic Dog headed up the (also newish?) gravelly path which leads up the hill and around the cairn.

We had the place to ourselves for a good 20 minutes, during which time I didn’t pick up any unwelcoming vibes – maybe the presence of HtMD patrolling the perimeter kept any supernatural interference at bay. That said, I did only spend a brief amount of time actually inside the chamber, impressive though it is. Too much talk of potential for collapse playing on the mind, maybe…

Barpa Langass

follow that cow
follow that cow Apr 3, 2005

As I sat on top of Barpa Langass wondering just what was the probability of it collapsing, after standing for countless millenia, onto poor old me, I was treated to the magnificent sight of a Hen harrier as it cruised low and silent over the moor, like a Great White Shark of the air, searching for it’s unsuspecting prey.

Ah, wonderful!!

Barpa Langass

greywether
greywether Sep 12, 2004

Barpa (pronounced Varpa) Langass – Cairn on the long ridge

This was my first trip to the Outer Hebrides. We came off the morning ferry and straight to this site – the only Hebridean Passage Grave covered by a cairn which can be entered. Might as well get the best one in first.

It sits in a wonderful location, as others have said, but there is a mystery.

Why does it sit on the 50m contour, some 40m below the summit of the hill and why does the entrance face into the hillside? These are unusual features for passage graves but they occur in a number of Hebridean sites so it presumably is deliberate.

We stayed there for about one hour with me nipping back into the chamber in between the steady stream of visitors.

One of those visitors might appreciate Rhiannon’s post. She entered the chamber not knowing I was in there until I spoke to her. Never seen anyone leave a chamber so quickly. ” I thought you were the man from 2000 years ago” she said when she recovered her cool. I didn’t correct her chronology.

Visited 26 July 2004

Barpa Langass

wee_malky
wee_malky Aug 24, 2004

This chambered tomb sits on a prominent position on the hillside and must be visible for miles around (weather permitting). On the day of our visit it was relatively clear and the view from a high level like this is probably the only place you can describe Uist as having any scenery!

I am sure I read somewhere that it was a little unsafe and indeed the entrance seems to show some signs of collapse. If you can get past your fears then once inside you’ll find a relatively roomy and well constructed inner chamber.

Folklore

Barpa Langass
Chambered Cairn
Rhiannon
Rhiannon Aug 24, 2004

If the dodgy stonework isn’t enough to put you off entering the cairn, perhaps this story from Martin McCarthy’s Ancient Scotland site will be.

There is a tale of a visitor to this tomb who squeezed his way in with great effort, and then exitted with much greater speed and skill after--so he says--something kicked him in the kidneys. Yes, it’s a stupid superstitious story; but after visiting the tomb you can’t help but wonder....

Miscellaneous

Barpa Langass
Chambered Cairn
greywether
greywether Sep 21, 2004

Wee_malky refers to the inside of the cairn possibly being unsafe. Certainly a consideration if you’re sitting in there with the best part of 2m of cairn material above you!

There is also evidence of a repair job having been necessary during the building of the cairn or while it was still in use.

As you enter the cairn, you will see a 1.6m pillar with some cairn material to your right. The pillar supports the first lintel of the chamber (the one after the surviving passage lintel), the N end of which does not rest on a chamber stone in the way the other lintels do.

Presumably the lintel broke or (more likely) was threatening to and the pillar was put in to support it. The cairn material to its right could be further support or the blocking off of that area.

Erskine Beveridge in his 1911 North Uist , Its Archaeology and Topography (recently reprinted) says of this site,

We have been assured upon the best authority that Langass Barp contains a second chamber with its separate access from the north side, our informant having entered this within the past thirty years; while it is also stated that even a third chamber exists. Upon this subject we can add little, except that the east chamber already disclosed occupies but a small proportion of the whole structure, ample space remaining for at least two others.

No Hebridean Passage Grave has produced definite evidence of more than one chamber and, because many are ruined, the plans of most are known. Perhaps the locals were just having a little fun.

Miscellaneous

Barpa Langass
Chambered Cairn
greywether
greywether Sep 12, 2004

There are the remains of 20 chambered cairns on North Uist – that’s about one per 15 square km (6 square miles). So it must have been an important place in Neolithic Scotland.

Nearly all are of the type known (not surprisingly) as Hebridean Passage Graves.

Typically, these will have a round cairn (averaging c 25m) with a small V-shaped forecourt leading to a short passage which opens into a round or oval chamber. The chamber walls are made of large contiguous orthostats and the capstones rest directly on these.

Cairns have a ring of impressive peristaliths averaging about 1.5 to 2m high.

The passages are orientated towards the E.

Distribution is: all of the Outer Hebrides; Skye; and a few on the mainland as far S as Achnacreebeag near Oban.

Topics

wonky pillars 1
olly
olly
Sep 2005

Sites within 20km of Barpa Langass

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